Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
H adrian picked Tilda up at her grandmother’s house on the way to the inquest. When they were settled in the coach, she turned slightly toward him on the seat.
“Have you considered that there will be reporters at the inquest?” she asked, her tone and expression somewhat tentative.
He appreciated her concern. “I did recall there were reporters waiting outside when we left the last inquest. I suppose I didn’t spend time thinking about them being at this one.” And why hadn’t he? His presence at this inquest would draw notice because of his relationship to the victim and his wife.
He hadn’t wanted to think about it.
Then last night, Tilda had mentioned what Kirkham had said. Now, he was preparing himself for a spectacle in which he would likely be named as a suspect in a murder. He could hardly wait for his mother to read those newspaper articles.
Actually, he was sorry she would read them. They would worry her unnecessarily. Perhaps he should have prepared her.
Tilda briefly clasped his forearm, her hand squeezing gently through the layers of his garments, which did not include a greatcoat as the weather had decided, at least for today, that it was, in fact, spring. The sun shone in the sky whilst intermittent clouds puffed by like steam from a passing train.
“I’m sorry you’ve been troubled by all this,” Tilda said.
“It will be over soon,” he replied with a faint smile. “I hope.”
The coach arrived at the Crown and Sceptre, the pub where the inquest was to be held. They were early, but there was still a group of people outside. Inquests tended to draw attention. People wanted to know what had happened in their neighborhood. Or they were perversely curious about the matter, like Kirkham who planned to attend for the amusement of it.
Leach opened the door, and Hadrian climbed down. He helped Tilda out, then offered his arm to her before they made their way to the door of the pub.
Several of the people milling about appeared to be onlookers, but a few carried notepads and writing implements. One of them, a long-faced man in his forties, spotted Hadrian and strode toward him and Tilda, blocking their passage.
“Lord Ravenhurst, are you a witness? You know Mrs. Chambers, don’t you?”
The latter couldn’t be a question so much as the reporter notifying Hadrian that he was aware of the past scandal. Irritation scalded Hadrian’s insides, but he kept his features impassive.
“ Excuse us, please,” Tilda snapped, her eyes cold as she glowered at the reporter.
Her protection of him was astonishingly alluring.
“Who are you?” The reporter’s gaze moved over Tilda, his face pinching as if he found her distasteful.
Hadrian wanted to knock him down. Instead, he elbowed the man as he guided Tilda past him. “Move.”
Grasping the door, Hadrian pulled it open for Tilda. She took her hand from his arm and preceded him inside.
“Thank you,” she said simply as they stepped farther into the common room.
Hadrian found her gaze and held it. “Thank you .”
There were several people inside already, including what looked to be the coroner and jurors. Pollard was in attendance along with another gentleman and a woman. Massey stood in the corner, his expression dark.
The door opened behind them, and they pivoted. Teague and several constables strode in. Behind them, Oliver Chambers and another man, who had to be the eldest Chambers brother, entered. They were accompanied by a third man whom Hadrian recognized immediately.
He sucked in a breath and leaned toward Tilda. “That’s Padgett.”
“The inspector who oversaw the investigation into your stabbing?” Tilda whispered.
Hadrian nodded. “What the devil is he doing here?”
Padgett had gone out of his way to ensure no one properly investigated Hadrian’s stabbing or that of another gentleman a week later in the same place. It seemed he was one of the members of the Metropolitan Police who chose to accept bribes to augment their salary. In exchange, he did things such as close investigations without properly conducting them. The villain who’d been behind Hadrian’s stabbing had admitted to paying Padgett, but Padgett hadn’t been prosecuted for accepting bribes. Instead, he’d been allowed to retire from the police.
Tilda’s gaze followed the three men who moved together toward the seating area. “I wonder if he is now working as a private investigator.”
“For the Chambers brothers?” Hadrian scowled.
“Perhaps.”
Beryl arrived then. She wore black from head to toe, including a hat with a veil that completely covered her face. Hadrian may not have recognized her, except that her retainers were with her, along with Mrs. Styles-Rowdon.
The coroner asked everyone to take their seats whilst he remained standing. Tilda and Hadrian sat in the second row of chairs behind Beryl and Mrs. Styles-Rowdon.
Introducing himself as Julius Graythorpe, the coroner addressed the room. “Mr. Louis Chambers was found dead in his bed this Thursday past of suspicious circumstances. We shall determine the cause of his death. Let us turn our attention to the deceased, who was stabbed in the chest four times.”
He went on to describe the wound and the likely size of the blade that was used. “This sort of knife may be found in any kitchen. However, a knife was not discovered with the body.
“Upon review of the corpse, I noticed a bluish tinge to Mr. Chambers’ fingertips as well as diminishment in his eyeballs. This prompted me to test for arsenic poisoning, and the results were positive.”
Tilda gasped softly and leaned toward Hadrian. “That is why the inquest was postponed.”
“But the stabbing killed him, didn’t it?” Hadrian whispered.
“I would expect so, but the poisoning complicates matters.” She shook her head, and they listened to the coroner continue. He estimated the time of death between midnight and three o’clock.
The coroner then called the first person to testify—Mrs. Louis Chambers. He started by asking her to lift her veil so that he may see her face.
Beryl did as instructed, and now Hadrian could view her profile from where he sat. The coroner first asked about her marriage to Louis and whether she was seeking a divorce. Beryl revealed Louis’s treatment of her as well as her suspicion that he’d stolen several pieces of jewelry from her. She indicated that Tilda was helping her with the divorce.
Graythorpe asked about the night Louis was killed, as well as what happened the following morning. He then asked about her relationship to her former fiancé, Lord Ravenhurst.
Hadrian tensed. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t expected this, but it was still frustrating. No, it made him angry. Because he’d done nothing to warrant involvement in this matter.
Yet, he was involved because he’d had the misfortune to be betrothed to a woman who’d become tangled up with Louis Chambers, a man who’d apparently hated Hadrian and now, even in death, was causing him trouble.
Beryl told the coroner that she’d had little to no communication or interaction with Hadrian since they’d dissolved their engagement.
Graythorpe nodded vaguely. “Then why would you send him a letter the day before your husband was murdered asking for his help? Surely there were other people you could ask.” He looked expectantly at Beryl.
“I had already asked for help from my friend and neighbor, Mrs. Styles-Rowdon.” Beryl kept her chin up, but Hadrian thought she looked pale. “And I do not have family whom I can ask for anything.”
“Multiple people have reported to the police that you were having a liaison with someone, and that person may have been Ravenhurst. Are either of those things true?”
“Of course not,” she answered hastily as color rushed to her cheeks.
“Let us discuss the arsenic poisoning now,” Graythorpe said. “Detective Inspector Teague found a bottle of arsenic in the pantry of your household. Did you have occasion to use it?”
It was usual for a household to have arsenic to poison vermin. Still, Hadrian exchanged a look with Tilda.
“No.” Beryl glanced to her right where the members of her household were seated. “I’m sure Mrs. Blank or Mrs. Dunning may have done.”
“I will ask them,” Graythorpe replied. “Had your husband been ill?”
“Perhaps.” Beryl lifted a shoulder. “I thought he was drinking too much and suffering the ill effects. Massey would likely know more about that.” She flicked a look toward the valet, who was still standing in the corner.
Graythorpe then asked if Beryl had taken an insurance policy out on her husband. She replied that she had not. The coroner moved on to interview her retainers. The housekeeper and cook said they used arsenic to kill vermin. None could offer any information as to how Chambers had been poisoned.
Clara said she had cleaned up after Chambers being ill and also recounted how she’d found him dead in his bed. She also answered questions about her affair with Chambers and clearly didn’t enjoy doing so. She shifted in her chair whilst flushing crimson the entire time.
Finally, it was Massey’s turn to be questioned. It was evident he did not care for Beryl, and he repeated his belief that she was having an affair.
“You told Detective Inspector Teague that Chambers believed his wife’s paramour to be Lord Ravenhurst?”
“I did, but I’ve no proof that was true,” Massey said, much to Hadrian’s relief. “Mr. Chambers seemed to have a deep dislike of the earl. I don’t know why.”
“What of Mr. Chambers’ health?” Graythorpe asked next. “Did you notice he was ill?”
“Yes, but I also attributed it to his excessive alcohol consumption.”
The coroner asked Massey to detail Chambers’ symptoms, which sounded truly unpleasant. But how pleasant was an inquest supposed to be with a dead body laid out on a table? At least Chambers was covered with a cloth, and there were sprigs of lavender around the body.
As the coroner concluded his questioning of Massey, Hadrian realized that there’d been no discussion of Massey’s secret—that he spent one night every fortnight at a brothel, and not an ordinary brothel at that—or that Chambers had threatened the valet with exposing his secret. Whilst Hadrian didn’t want the man’s private life laid bare, he couldn’t help feeling that he didn’t want his own past revealed either, particularly because it made Hadrian appear a suspect. Massey was also a suspect but did not appear to be since he wasn’t questioned about his hidden behavior—of which Teague was aware. Why had Teague decided not to treat him as a suspect?
Tilda elbowed Hadrian gently. He turned his head to see her watching him intently. She nodded toward the coroner.
“Lord Ravenhurst?” Graythorpe asked, and Hadrian realized he’d been lost in his thoughts.
“Yes?” Hadrian stood.
“Thank you, my lord,” Graythorpe said with a deferential smile. “Would you remain standing? Or you may take this chair.” He gestured to an empty chair near the table.
“I’ll stand,” Hadrian said.
“How long have you known Mrs. Chambers?”
“About four years.”
Graythorpe clasped his hands behind his back. “You courted her during the Season?”
“I did. And we became engaged to be married.” Hadrian wanted to put this behind him as quickly as possible. “There was an unfortunate situation, and Mrs. Chambers and I decided we didn’t suit.”
“Because you caught Mrs. Chambers in an embrace with Mr. Louis Chambers, correct?” Graythorpe looked at him expectantly.
“Yes.” Hadrian felt something brush his hand. He looked down and saw that it was Tilda. But she was already resting her hand back on her lap. Still, the brief, simple gesture eased his tension.
“Did you blame Chambers for the ruin of your betrothal?” Graythorpe asked.
Hadrian loathed having to answer this in such a public setting. It would undoubtedly hurt Beryl, but there was nothing Hadrian could do. “I mostly blamed Mrs. Chambers.” He saw from the lower part of his eye that Beryl had turned her head toward him, but he kept his attention fixed on the coroner.
“Yet you came to help her when she asked,” Graythorpe noted.
“I did. She sounded desperate, and I am not unkind.”
“Is it possible you still have a romantic inclination toward Mrs. Chambers?”
Again, Hadrian disliked having to expose himself and his emotions in this manner. He rolled his shoulders. “It is not.”
Graythorpe then asked Hadrian about what had happened at Arthur’s the night before Chambers was killed. Hadrian relayed that, as well as his arrival at the Chambers’ house the following day, including his shock at learning Chambers had been murdered.
“Shortly thereafter, Miss Matilda Wren arrived. The two of you work together to investigate crimes?”
“We have on one other occasion,” Hadrian said. “I hired her to find Chambers’ killer.”
Graythorpe’s brows drew together. “Why would you do that?”
“Because Miss Wren is a skilled investigator, and I believed she would find the murderer as quickly as possible.”
The coroner’s eyes narrowed, and Hadrian’s neck bristled. “And you are working with her.” It wasn’t a question. “You have conducted yourself above reproach and have not sought to divert the investigation away from yourself?”
Hadrian’s jaw clenched. “I always conduct myself with the utmost integrity, Mr. Graythorpe. Anyone will tell you that.”
Graythorpe inclined his head. “Thank you, my lord. You may be seated.”
Next, the corner asked Tilda to stand. She flicked a glance at Hadrian, and he couldn’t detect even a modicum of nervousness or apprehension.
Over the next several minutes, she answered the coroner’s questions about Beryl’s intention to divorce her husband, as well as the jewelry that had gone missing and Tilda’s efforts to find it. He then questioned her about what she’d learned regarding Martha Farrow. Tilda answered everything openly and honestly.
When it seemed the coroner was finished, Tilda surprised him—and probably everyone in the room—by asking if she could pose a question of her own.
“That would be highly irregular, Miss Wren.”
“Nevertheless, may I? The arsenic poisoning is a great surprise. Can you share how acute the poisoning was?”
“If you’re asking whether the arsenic contributed to Mr. Chambers’ death, it did not. Though if he’d continued to ingest it at the same levels, I expect he would have died from the poison in the near future.” The corner pursed his lips. “You may be seated, Miss Wren.”
Hadrian took that to mean that she was not to ask any further questions.
Next, Graythorpe questioned Pollard who provided an alibi for when Chambers had been murdered. Pollard had been at Arthur’s until very late—or very early, depending on how one looked at it—with his cousin, whom he’d brought to the inquest. That was the gentleman who’d been standing with him earlier. And the woman was, apparently, Pollard’s wife.
Finally, Graythorpe asked Daniel and Oliver Chambers if they would answer a few questions. The coroner queried Oliver about investing in the store with Pollard—which he’d also discussed with Pollard a few minutes earlier. They both indicated that Louis Chambers hadn’t wanted to Oliver to invest.
When asked why, it was the eldest brother, Daniel, who responded. “Louis wanted to do something on his own. I inherited our father’s engineering firm, and Oliver had pursued a career in the church. Until recently, that is.”
Graythorpe addressed Oliver. “Was Louis upset with you for trying to intrude on his business plans?”
“Yes.”
“And now you are benefitting from his death since you are, in fact, going to invest in Pollard’s store.”
“We have not yet finalized the arrangement,” Oliver said quietly, his gaze focused on the floor.
The coroner looked toward Pollard once more. “Mr. Pollard, is it your intent to allow Mr. Oliver Chambers to invest?”
Pollard nodded. “Yes.”
Graythorpe returned his attention to Oliver. “You will benefit from your brother’s death.”
“No, he would have made the investment anyhow,” Daniel said, sounding angry. Hadrian couldn’t see his face. “Louis was going to have to accept him.”
“Why?” Graythorpe asked crisply.
Daniel frowned. “Because he was out of funds.”
The coroner arched his brow. “How do you know that?”
“I know because I’d been giving him money periodically for years and recently stopped. I refused to watch him recklessly spend.” He pressed his lips together, his expression one of frustration and sadness.
“Thank you, Mr. Chambers. And Mr. Chambers.” Graythorpe turned his head to the jury. He asked if they needed to step out to deliberate or if they could come to a quick conclusion.
The jurors murmured amongst themselves and almost immediately returned their decision—Chambers had been murdered.
It wasn’t shocking, but still people reacted, muttering and whispering.
The coroner thanked the jury, then urged the police to find the murderer as soon as possible, noting that they had an abundance of suspects. Graythorpe’s gaze moved over those assembled, and for a brief moment his eyes connected with Hadrian’s. Swallowing, Hadrian jerked his attention toward Teague who’d stepped forward.
“I am Detective Inspector Teague. If you know anything at all about Mr. Chambers, please speak to me. I will remain here for a short while. You may also visit me at Scotland Yard.”
Everyone began to stand. Tilda clasped Hadrian’s forearm briefly. He turned toward her. “You did well,” she murmured. “I’m sorry you had to answer all that.”
“It’s all right. I look forward to when this is history once more.” He gave her a small smile.
“I’d like to go to the Chambers’ house,” Tilda whispered. She glanced toward Beryl who was speaking to Mrs. Styles-Rowdon. “Do you think Beryl will mind?”
Hadrian understood what Tilda wanted to do. “You want to investigate the poisoning.”
Her eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. “Yes. I would really like if Massey would come, but I’m not sure he will.”
“Let’s go ask him.” Hadrian escorted her to Massey, who was trying to cut through the crowd toward the door. “Massey, wait,” Hadrian called.
The valet paused, his features taut. “What is it?” He appeared impatient.
“I don’t suppose you’d come to the Chambers’ house with us?” Tilda asked. “I’d like to conduct some inquiries about this poisoning. In particular, I’d like to determine where it came from.”
“Wouldn’t it have been put into his food?” Massey looked toward the cook. “Seems like you should be speaking with Mrs. Dunning.”
“I plan to,” Tilda said. “I’d just hoped to speak to everyone who lived there. If you’d rather not come, I can ask you some questions now and then call on you at the Cock and Hen if I have further inquiries.”
“I’ll come to the house,” Massey said, though he seemed annoyed. “I do need to fetch the rest of my things.” He seemed hesitant. “I should also speak with Mrs. Chambers about making sure she’ll continue to pay my wages. Though I am worried since Daniel Chambers indicated that his brother was out of funds.”
“I will speak with her on your behalf,” Hadrian offered. He hoped there were funds to pay the valet. Not to mention the rest of the staff. If not, he may talk to Daniel Chambers to see if he would ensure the retainers did not suffer because of Louis Chambers’ financial recklessness. “Why don’t you walk on ahead and pack up your things?” Hadrian suggested.
When the valet was gone, Hadrian and Tilda walked to where Beryl stood with Mrs. Styles-Rowdon.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Mrs. Styles-Rowdon said brightly. She wore an elegant purple ensemble adorned with a black sash at her waist.
Beryl had left her veil up for the remainder of the inquest. “I am glad it’s over.” She glanced at Hadrian with perhaps a touch of nervousness.
“I am also,” Hadrian said. “Would you allow Tilda and me to accompany you back to your house?” It would be a short walk.
“Of course,” Beryl replied.
Tilda smiled. “Thank you. I would like to speak with you and the staff about this poisoning business, as well as look around the house. Will that be all right?”
Beryl shook her head. “I can’t believe he was poisoned. I suppose that was why he’d been ill. We had no idea.” She seemed more surprised than sad, but Hadrian supposed that made sense. She’d made no secret that she disliked her husband and regretted marrying him. It was why she was a suspect.
And while Hadrian had a great deal of trouble believing she would have stabbed her husband, he somehow found it more believable that she might poison him. Did that mean he suspected she was guilty? Did that also mean multiple people had attempted to kill Chambers?
He wasn’t sure, but someone had succeeded in killing Louis Chambers.
After today’s inquest, he wasn’t sure they were any closer to finding out who.